The Death of Socrates, by
Jacques-Louis David
Socrates (470/469 – 399 BC) was a classical Greek
(Athenian) philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy.
He is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of classical
writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the
plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Plato's dialogues are among the most
comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity, though it is
unclear the degree to which Socrates himself is "hidden behind his 'best
disciple', Plato". It has been said that Socrates' greatest contribution
to philosophy was to move intellectual pursuits away from the focus on
`physical science' (as pursued by the so-called Pre-Socratic Philosophers such
as Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, and others) and into the abstract realm of
ethics and morality. He was, nevertheless, found guilty of both corrupting the
minds of the youth of Athens and of impiety ("not believing in the gods of
the state"), and subsequently sentenced to death by drinking a mixture
containing poison hemlock [1].
Eclipses often indicate the
death of prominent people. In this post we intend to show that a chart for the solar eclipse of May 13,
399 BC drawn for Athens carries indications of the death of Socrates. Notice
that the eclipse is placed on the horizon axis along with Mars opposite Saturn – a combination that is
associated with harmful or destructive energies including death or suicide. It
is square the TNP Poseidon. Martha Wescott gives the following key phrases for
Poseidon which appear to describe Socrates perfectly.
POSEIDON: Uplifting people/ideas; psychic
vibrations; persuasion; intellectual or spiritual influences; ideological or
moral stances; spread of ideas; advertising; interest in ethics; inspiration;
religion; clarity; enlightenment; receptivity to The Force.
It must be recognized that owing
to the larger orb allowed for the angles we are here dealing with a Grand Cross
comprising Sun-Moon-Mars-Saturn-Poseidon-Jupiter-Apollon. The combination
Poseidon-Jupiter-Apollon can be considered a direct reference to a Master
Teacher of spiritualty, ethics and
morality. Ebertin’s key phrase for Mars-Saturn-Jupiter: “a quick dissolution of the body; a very
pleasant and easy death” summarizes Socrates' death quite well.
Let us now look at the stars
that form a back drop to some elements to understand the issues better. The
eclipse luminaries are conjunct the stars Hoedus I, zeta Auriga and Hoedus II,
eta Auriga [2]. These are the Haedi, Kid Goats, stars on the left arm of the
Charioteer. About this area, Diana Rosenberg informs us that “many here become
teachers…or may become particularly involved with children. Whether in a
classroom or other position, at some point they need to recognize that they are
role models for the next generation, and accept this as a joyful burden”. An extract from Manilius about Capella, the alpha star of
Auriga explains the strange role of the constellation in “nourishing” children and confirms Diana Rosenberg’s
comments:
"The Olenian goat (translator's note:
Capella, Olenian either as being on the left arm of the Charioteer, or as the
daughter of Oleniss), keeping watch over the Kids which stray ahead, enstarred
on the right in the cold north sky for her services as foster-mother of mighty
Jove (Jupiter). She gave the Thunderer (Jupiter) sound nourishment, satisfying
with her own milk the infant's hungry body and giving him therewith sufficient
strength to wield his bolts. Of the Goat are born anxious minds and trembling hearts,
which start at every noise and are apt to flutter at the slightest cause.
Inborn in them, too, is a longing to explore the unknown, even as goats seek
fresh shrubs on mountain slopes and rejoice, as they browse, to move ever
further afield". [Manilius, book 5 of Astronomica, 1st century A.D., p. 305-309]
Mars on the Ascendant is
conjunct the star Menkalinan, beta Auriga. The following extract about the star
from Nick Fiorenza not only resonates with the Auriga theme mentioned above but
also appears to describe a well known side of Socrates – a forceful and pushy
nature enjoying confrontational debates but more importantly believing in dialog to help his students
understand philosophical issues clearly.
Menkalinan, the right shoulder of Auriga the
Charioteer, conjoins Betelgeuse, the right shoulder of Orion, and the
"Gate of Man." Menkalinan is of mutual support amongst colleagues
with a responsibility to assist each other in the world of daily human affairs.
Menkalinan is also a polarizer that will show indecision by bringing experience
of the opposite side of an issue to make clear the choices and to reveal one's
hesitancy to respond to life in the moment. Menkalinan can dramatize through
graphic illustration to elucidate one's hesitancies for those not abiding to
the more subtle messages within. Menkalinan's helps to cut through the
confusion, to make things plain and clear. Menkalinan is associate to Capella,
Auriga's lucida, the Messenger of Light [3].
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